8/13 Update on "Bad Context 13x Error" for Intel SSD 320 Series

[idata]

Status:

Intel has reproduced, identified root cause, and developed a firmware update which addresses the Bad Context 13x Error being discussed on the Communities site and elsewhere.

Response plan:

The new firmware update is in final validation testing and is targeted for release on Intel® Communities within the next two weeks. Intel takes firmware updates and issues of reliability very seriously and is taking extra steps to support a smooth release. We appreciate your patience.

What should I do if I have not experienced this issue?

To minimize occurrence, if a system requires a shut down, Intel recommends using that system's standard power shut down sequence. As with any storage device, Intel recommends users frequently back up their data. Download and install the new firmware when it is available. As with our previous firmware updates, a secure erase is not required.

What should I do if I have experienced this issue?

If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update is released, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: http://www.intel.com/ www.intel.com or phone: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) for an SSD replacement. An alternative option is to use the Intel ® SSD Toolbox or similar tools to perform a secure erase in order to restore the SSD to an operational state; all data will be erased. After secure erase, update your SSD with the upcoming firmware. The pending firmware update will not recover user data.

Background:

For users unfamiliar with the issue, an Intel SSD 320 Series drive may exhibit a drive capacity of 8MB and an electronic serial # field containing a message of "BAD_CTX 0000013x" due to an unexpected power loss under specific conditions. Once this error occurs, no data on the SSD can be accessed and the user cannot write to or read from the SSD.

Rgds,

Scott

Intel Corporation

[idata]

All,

Thanks for the details on your issues with the Firmware update tool and various Mac platforms.. We appreciate your feedback and are currently investigating this issue on your particular platforms. Please continue to check Intel Communities for updates. Thanks,ScottIntel Corporation

[idata]

Hey Scott, Intel's "Bad Context 13x Error" fix works like a charm on my MacBook Pro platform, and without losing any of my data too, such a life saver. I followed nabecyan's steps and my Intel 320 ssd's firmware is now 4PC10362. Many thanks to Intel for keeping its promises and supporting the Mac community.

[idata]

Same here, did a back up, booted with the CD and on the DOS screen it says cannot find the SSD's, before the back up they were listed just fine and the Intel toolbox was working, now the toolbox isn't working and the SSD's aren't listed on the BIOS.

I've had it, I have already wasted enough time over this F@# ^% Intel and their SSD's, from here on anything but Intel SSD's, my advice save your time $$$ and energy on something else.

[Vegan]

Try a cold power down. Then see if the SSD is detected.

If not then its bricked

[idata]

Try a cold power down. Then see if the SSD is detected.

If not then its bricked

vegan, this sentence is not true. please consider before confusing other people. I had a brand new RMA drive (sealed), it was not being recognized by the firmware update on

- a macbook pro 2008 (pre unibody)

- a desktop pc with an nvicia chipset

and finally it was recognized in a 2010 unibody macbook pro. Of course I 'cold powered down' the systems above prior to installing the ssd. So it had nothing to do with "being bricked" (which it was not in the first place).